Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from the Ohio State win

On a bitterly cold day outside, Michigan basketball got a severely-needed victory over its arch-rival 73-65 to try and jump-start their season. Olivier Nkamhoua, Terrance Williams, and Dug McDaniel led the charge with 53 combined points. Williams was 5-5 from deep as they finally won an affair that was within 10 points or so.

Here are three of the takeaways from another consequential win over that team down south.

1. Michigan basketball survived Ohio State's 16-0 scare

With around 12 minutes to play in regulation and Jalen Rose on commentary, Michigan upped its lead to 12 at 55-43. That's when the Buckeyes caught fire and outplayed the Wolverines. It looked like Michigan was gonna blow another double digit lead as Ohio State made 16 unanswered to go ahead 59-55 with seven minutes left.

Michigan regrouped with a 5-0 run until the Buckeyes dunked it home on a reviewable play that stood with the shot clocking winding down. It turned out to be their last lead of the day. In the next five minutes, Michigan basketball outscored Ohio State 7-0 and just two minutes remained on the clock. That's when Terrance Williams hit the dagger with 30 seconds to go.

It was Michigan's first win since 2023 and its third in a row over the scarlet and gray. Jace Howard also returned for his initial playing minutes of the entire season. He grabbed a trifecta of boards, but didn't score. Tray Jackson was out again because he is still in concussion protocol. That's what the official availability report listed before Monday's meeting.